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Worried about experiencing heavy bleeding during ovulation? Any bleeding that’s not your period can certainly feel alarming. It may even cause you to worry about your health and chances of pregnancy.
So if you’re wondering, is there such a thing as “normal” ovulation bleeding? The answer is yes. It looks like spotting or very light bleeding (as in just a few spots of pink-colored blood on your underwear). And it won’t last more than a day or two.
But heavy bleeding during ovulation? This is something to be more cautious about. If you’re soaking through your pad or tampon every hour or bleeding heavily for more than 7 days, this is not normal.
Heavy mid-cycle bleeding could mean a few things. These include endometriosis, fibroids, polyps, or infections. It could even be caused by a new birth control.
Keep reading though and you’ll get much more clarity on some common causes of and treatments for mid-cycle bleeding.
Is ovulation bleeding normal, and why does it happen?
Yes, bleeding during ovulation is normal. But it’s not really too common. In fact, one study found that mid-cycle bleeding was only seen in 4.8% of women.
So if it doesn’t happen for most women, then what causes mid-cycle bleeding?
The main culprit is changes in your hormones. When you ovulate, the levels of your sex hormones change. And for those who bleed mid-cycle, these changes are even more varied.
One study analyzed the menstrual cycles of over 200 women. This is what they observed in those who had spotting mid-cycle:
- Estrogen: levels were higher around ovulation and the luteal phase
- Progesterone: levels were higher in the luteal phase
- Luteinizing hormone (LH): levels were higher around ovulation
For those who do have bleeding around ovulation time, how do you know if it’s normal or not?
It does vary slightly from woman to woman. But generally, ovulation bleeding just appears as spotting. That said, it could be a little heavier than spotting. Again, it all depends on the person. Keep reading the next section though. We’ll go over a major red flag to look out for.
Heavy ovulation bleeding with clots
This isn’t meant to alarm you. But heavy bleeding with clots mid-menstrual cycle is not normal, especially if the bleeding is accompanied by additional symptoms like pain or vomiting.
If you are experiencing this, contact your doctor. A healthcare provider can help you better assess the situation and get treated if needed. Because this type of heavy bleeding could be caused by a more serious condition.
So long story short, bleeding during ovulation—especially with clots—is not the norm. But there are still some other reasons you could see blood mid-cycle.
And just to avoid any confusion, keep this in mind. Mid-cycle bleeding refers to any spotting or bleeding that occurs between one menstrual cycle and the next. Ovulation bleeding is only one type of mid-cycle bleeding.
In the next section, you’ll learn several conditions that could cause you to bleed when it’s not your period. These conditions may lead to bleeding around the time you ovulate. But they may also cause bleeding at other times within your cycle as well. Hence the term “mid-cycle.”
What else can cause mid-cycle bleeding?
Abnormal bleeding mid-cycle can happen for a variety of reasons. Below are the top suspects you should know about.
- Not tracking your cycle accurately
It’s possible you may have confused the exact timing of when you ovulated. For instance, if you had a light period, maybe you mistook menstruation for ovulation bleeding. Or you mixed up implantation bleeding with your period.
Here’s how this confusion can happen. Some women experience implantation bleeding in very early pregnancy. This is very light bleeding that occurs when the embryo implants into your uterus.
So there’s a chance you could confuse implantation bleeding with a light period. If that’s the case, then the bleeding you’re experiencing could actually be early pregnancy spotting.
Research estimates that 15- 25% of women have spotting in early pregnancy. This lighter pregnancy bleeding is usually nothing to worry about. But to confirm what’s going on, take a few pregnancy tests or see your HCP.
If you do find that you’re pregnant, know that heavier bleeding in the early days of pregnancy could mean miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy.
Be on the lookout for these key symptoms:
- Heavy bleeding
- Passing tissue-like clots
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
If you have any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away.
Learn more: Is Heavy Implantation Bleeding Normal? Or Should I Be Worried?
- Bleeding after sex
Another potential cause of mid-cycle bleeding is penetration. During your ovulation window, your cervix is more sensitive. This is because of increased blood supply to that area.
Because of the heightened sensitivity around this time, intercourse could cause spotting. But bleeding a lot after sex is not normal. Heavy bleeding may indicate a more serious issue like a sexually transmitted disease (STI), polyps, fibroids, or endometriosis. In very rare cases, it could even indicate cancer.
Your birth control regimen
While taking birth control, you could experience “breakthrough bleeding.” This light bleeding between periods is caused by your body adjusting to your fluctuating hormone levels.
You’re more likely to experience breakthrough bleeding if you…
- Started birth control within the last 3 – 6 months
- Recently switched your birth control
- Forgot to take your birth control for don’t take it regularly
- Used an emergency birth control pill
If you experience breakthrough bleeding regularly or it’s very heavy, consult your HCP.
- Uterine fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that arise from the muscle tissue of your uterus. Doctors and researchers aren’t 100% sure why some women develop these growths.
What they do know is that fibroids have more hormone sensitivity than normal uterine tissue. This is due to a greater amount of progesterone and estrogen receptors. And along with this higher hormone activity could come some pain or bleeding.
The good news? Uterine fibroids can be treated. A doctor would do an ultrasound to confirm that you have fibroids. And if needed, they could prescribe you hormonal medications and/or NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen.
- Uterine or cervical polyps
This is the most common type of lesion found in women. If you have abnormal uterine bleeding, there’s a 50% chance that it’s from a uterine or cervical polyp. So what are they?
Polyps are abnormal growths that extend from the endometrium (your uterine lining). A polyp contains glands, tissue, and blood vessels. They form due to a hormonal imbalance that occurs when the amount of estrogen receptors outnumbers progesterone receptors.
This additional estrogen can show up as bleeding between your menstrual cycles. On the bright side, polyps can be treated with medical intervention. Surgery or progesterone therapy are the main treatment options.
- Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a condition involving the growth of uterine tissue outside of your uterus. Even though the tissue itself is abnormal, it will respond to your hormones as regular uterine tissue would. All of this means that under certain circumstances, it can become irritated or even cause bleeding during ovulation.
- Infections
Cervical or vaginal inflammation can be caused by having an STI such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. These kinds of infections can also lead to intermenstrual bleeding or spotting in some cases.
If you think it’s possible you have an STI, you would most likely notice additional symptoms likea painful sensation while peeing, frequent urination, vaginal discharge, or rectal pain.
If you think your symptoms could indicate an infection, definitely see your doctor. They’ll be able to prescribe you an antibiotic to fight the infection. This is important because if you don’t treat an STI, you face the risk of it spiraling into pelvic inflammatory disease.
As you can see, there are several potential reasons for mid-cycle bleeding. But many women also wonder about how this can impact their fertility. So let’s take a look at that too.
Does ovulation bleeding make it harder to get pregnant?
Big sigh! It is still possible to get pregnant when you have bleeding during ovulation. But it will all depend on the underlying cause of your bleeding.
On one hand, ovulation bleeding could be a hopeful indication that you have an open fertile window. On the other hand, it’s also possible that the bleeding is the result of a health condition that may make it harder to get pregnant. Further investigation can help give you more clarity on your unique circumstances.
So with any abnormal bleeding concerns, consult your HCP. They can help with evaluating, diagnosing, and treating any potential health issues.
Tracking ovulation for mid-cycle bleeding
If you know when you ovulate, you can avoid unnecessary confusion between ovulation bleeding, implantation bleeding, and menstrual bleeding. One easy way to track this is by using a fertility monitor.
The Inito fertility monitor is your best friend when it comes to tracking and confirming ovulation. This is because it allows you to see the exact numerical values of your fertility hormones in your urine. Hormones like LH, FSH, and estrogen can assist in predicting ovulation. And PdG (a urine metabolite of progesterone) can confirm ovulation.
So when you use the Inito monitor, you can confirm the precise timing of your ovulation. And if you didn’t ovulate and still had bleeding, it’s best to follow up with your doctor.
Hopefully, at this point, you have a better understanding of the causes of mid-cycle bleeding. You also know how you can track ovulation to spot abnormal patterns. Now, let’s get clear on when to seek medical attention.
When to see a doctor about ovulation bleeding?
Even if you’re unsure of the cause of your bleeding, here are some circumstances that warrant a call to your doctor.
Call your doctor if
- You have heavy bleeding for more than 7 days or you’re soaking through a pad/tampon every hour
- You have severe pain
- You have any signs of heavy blood loss: dizziness, palpitations, hypotension, etc.
- Additional symptoms such as: 1. fever 2. extreme or persistent abdominal pain 3. easy bruising, or 4. abnormal vaginal discharge
- You think you could be pregnant or miscarrying
Takeaways
- Ovulation bleeding can happen, but it’s not very common. About 4.8% of women experience bleeding during ovulation.
- You can identify ovulation bleeding by paying attention to the color and timing. Ovulation bleeding will be pinkish in color and it ranges from spotting to light bleeding lasting 1 – 2 days.
- There are many health conditions that could lead to intermenstrual bleeding. A few are: sex, fibroids, birth control, uterine or cervical polyps, endometriosis, infections, and pregnancy loss
- The good news is you can still get pregnant even if you have ovulation bleeding.
- Heavy bleeding accompanied by pain or other symptoms should be taken seriously.
- If you are concerned there’s a larger health concern, consult your doctor. For example, heavy bleeding 3 days after ovulation? Visit your doctor to get yourself checked and have your queries answered.
Was this article helpful?
- Menstrual Bleeding Patterns Among Regularly Menstruating Women – PMC
- Bleeding During Pregnancy | ACOG
- Endometrial polyps: Pathogenesis, sequelae and treatment – PMC
- Leiomyoma – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf
- Uterine Fibroids | ACOG
- Uterine Fibroids (Leiomyomata) and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding – PMC
- Unscheduled bleeding and contraceptive choice: increasing satisfaction and continuation rates – PMC
- Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Syphilis | ACOG
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